Wiesmüller, G A, Ebel, H, Hornberg, C · Fortschritte der Neurologie-Psychiatrie · 2001 · DOI
This editorial discusses several conditions related to environmental sensitivities and stress, including ME/CFS, that doctors often struggle to diagnose or treat. The authors note that these conditions may result from a mix of environmental exposures, personal traits, stress, and how the mind interprets these experiences. They emphasize that while doctors don't yet have solid scientific ways to diagnose or treat these conditions, patients' symptoms deserve to be taken seriously.
This editorial highlights a critical gap in ME/CFS science: the absence of validated diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols nearly two decades ago. For patients, it validates that symptom complexity is real and multifactorial, while challenging the biomedical vs. psychogenic dichotomy. It underscores why interdisciplinary research and careful case definitions remain essential for ME/CFS.
This editorial does not prove the etiology or pathophysiology of ME/CFS or other environmental syndromes. It makes no new empirical observations about ME/CFS biology or natural history. It also does not establish whether these conditions are primarily psychological, environmental, or organic—rather, it critiques the lack of evidence across all frameworks.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
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Primary citation
Wiesmüller, G A, Ebel, H, & Hornberg, C (2001). [Syndromes in environmental medicine: variants of somatoform disorders].. Fortschritte der Neurologie-Psychiatrie. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2001-12681
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-wiesmller-2001-syndromes-environmental,
author = {Wiesmüller, G A and Ebel, H and Hornberg, C},
title = {[Syndromes in environmental medicine: variants of somatoform disorders].},
journal = {Fortschritte der Neurologie-Psychiatrie},
year = {2001},
doi = {10.1055/s-2001-12681},
note = {PubMed: 11386123},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/wiesmller-2001-syndromes-environmental},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-29. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/wiesmller-2001-syndromes-environmental
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